Cost of Living in San Juan del Sur - Updated Prices & Insights

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $620 (excluding rent), and $1,035 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $1,247 (excluding rent), and $2,458 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.11 NIO 151

$3.20 NIO 118

$9.77 NIO 360

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.04 NIO 1,252

$25.28 NIO 930

$80.9 NIO 2,976

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.54 NIO 204

$5.39 NIO 198

$7.90 NIO 291

Cappuccino

$2.36 NIO 86.9

$1.08 NIO 39.82

$4.01 NIO 148

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 NIO 28.78

$0.46 NIO 16.84

$1.30 NIO 47.73

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 NIO 25.09

$0.46 NIO 16.85

$0.97 NIO 35.84

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.32 NIO 48.58

$1.10 NIO 40.43

$3.96 NIO 146

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 NIO 74.7

$1.93 NIO 70.9

$4.06 NIO 149

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 NIO 46.76

$0.92 NIO 33.94

$1.45 NIO 53.2

White Bread (500g)

$1.53 NIO 56.2

$2.50 NIO 91.8

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 NIO 43.76

$1.88 NIO 69.3

Eggs

$1.88 NIO 69.1

$1.62 NIO 59.7

$2.44 NIO 89.6

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.94 NIO 292

$4.55 NIO 167

$13.78 NIO 507

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.39 NIO 235

$2.96 NIO 109

$6.75 NIO 249

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.89 NIO 290

$7.07 NIO 260

$10.68 NIO 393

Apples (1kg)

$3.80 NIO 140

$3.29 NIO 121

$4.87 NIO 179

Banana (1kg)

$0.85 NIO 31.13

$0.58 NIO 21.47

$2.15 NIO 79.1

Oranges (1kg)

$1.83 NIO 67.3

$1.52 NIO 56.1

$5.52 NIO 203

Tomato (1kg)

$2.18 NIO 80.2

$1.92 NIO 70.8

$2.98 NIO 110

Potato (1kg)

$3.23 NIO 119

$2.22 NIO 81.7

$4.24 NIO 156

Onion (1kg)

$2.27 NIO 83.5

$2.15 NIO 78.9

$3.08 NIO 113

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 NIO 39.30

$0.73 NIO 26.83

$1.71 NIO 62.7

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 NIO 36.91

$0.76 NIO 27.95

$1.46 NIO 53.8

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.71 NIO 99.8

$2.52 NIO 92.7

$3.66 NIO 135

Wine (Bottle)

$9.62 NIO 354

$9.44 NIO 347

$14.24 NIO 524

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 NIO 51.6

$1.06 NIO 38.95

$1.67 NIO 61.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 NIO 82.3

$1.74 NIO 64.2

$2.40 NIO 88.3

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.52 NIO 55.9

$1.38 NIO 50.7

$1.65 NIO 60.8

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.68 NIO 246

$5.37 NIO 197

$9.83 NIO 362

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 NIO 46.13

$1.17 NIO 43.22

$1.32 NIO 48.67

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$22.6K NIO 830.9K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.3K NIO 967.1K

$28.9K NIO 1.1M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$41.66 NIO 1,533

$24.50 NIO 902

$106 NIO 3,914

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$10.42 NIO 383

$5.95 NIO 219

$18.96 NIO 698

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.23 NIO 1,333

$30.20 NIO 1,111

$60.4 NIO 2,222

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.61 NIO 1,126

Cinema Ticket

$8.15 NIO 300

$6.26 NIO 230

$12.22 NIO 450

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$124 NIO 4,552

$66.4 NIO 2,444

$259 NIO 9,531

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,114 NIO 224.9K

$4,280 NIO 157.5K

$15.3K NIO 562.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.0 NIO 2,795

$53.8 NIO 1,978

$88.3 NIO 3,249

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$71.4 NIO 2,628

$39.24 NIO 1,444

$118 NIO 4,350

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$130 NIO 4,794

$78.6 NIO 2,892

$147 NIO 5,422

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 NIO 4,057

$56.1 NIO 2,063

$153 NIO 5,626

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$469 NIO 17.3K

$402 NIO 14.8K

$503 NIO 18.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$415 NIO 15.3K

$152 NIO 5,607

$635 NIO 23.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$931 NIO 34.3K

$637 NIO 23.4K

$1,176 NIO 43.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$982 NIO 36.1K

$914 NIO 33.6K

$1,016 NIO 37.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$277 NIO 10.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.25

11.75

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update: January 20, 2026

San Juan del Sur Median Internet Speeds (Updated December 2025)

Mobile

143

Mbps

Fixed Broadband

Mbps

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

City tags:

Cost of Living in San Juan del Sur - Frequently Asked Questions

Cost of Living in San Juan del Sur offers a balanced mix of value and choice. Local markets and casual eateries let you stretch a budget without sacrificing flavor, while mid-range apartments near the beach or in hillside streets provide comfortable options for longer stays. Utilities and internet tend to be reasonable for a tourist-friendly town, though prices can shift with the season. For longer stays, negotiating rent and choosing longer leases can noticeably reduce monthly costs. A practical plan is to blend self-catering with inexpensive meals and pick a neighborhood that fits your pace and access needs. Tip: Start with a two- or three-week trial in one area to compare neighborhoods before signing a longer rental.

For a typical day, you combine practical errands with productive work time. When searching for housing, start with local listings online, then wander the central beachfront and hillside lanes to assess noise, light, and access. Food options run from budget mercados and pupuserias to midrange cafes with international dishes. Groceries come from mercados and small supermarkets; buy seasonal produce to keep costs steady. Getting around is straightforward on foot for short hops; tuk-tuks and scooter rentals handle longer coastal trips. There are coworking spaces and cafes with reliable Wi‑Fi for work calls. For a sense of San Juan del Sur living cost, observe price ranges across markets and eateries. Tip: set a weekly budget by category and track it.

Quality of life in San Juan del Sur comes from a relaxed pace, access to beaches and outdoor markets, and a growing community of travelers and remote workers. A practical budgeting framework helps you stay flexible: divide your month into housing, food, transport, and leisure, then adjust each category as the season shifts. Save by cooking with fresh, local produce, shopping at mercados, and choosing longer-term rentals with utilities included. Seasonal changes bring busier streets and fuller queues, especially in peak season, so plan around popular weekends and holidays. Neighborhood fit matters: beachfront zones are lively, while hillside lanes offer quieter mornings and sunsets. Tip: set a monthly review date to swap in cheaper options when possible.